With the 20-inch SS-looking wheels and the unique front fascia, most folks who saw the truck were convinced it was the new standard cab SS that Chevrolet hinted at delivering for '04. But when we popped the hood to show off the polished MagnaCharger supercharger sitting on top of the small-block, people began to take a closer look and notice that the black pickup was more than just a factory piece. Hmm, let's see - big brakes, NASCAR-style shifter, leather/suede interior, and Joe Gibbs Performance logos everywhere. That's when the questions started. While the Gibbs name may be big in the NFL and NASCAR circles, it hasn't become a household name in the performance truck tuner market - yet.
Our initial impression of the truck was as we stated at the start of this story: This is the SS that Chevrolet should have built. With 6 pounds of boost, the tiny 4.8L motor gains plenty of low-end grunt to start the truck rolling in a hurry. As the rpms build, the linear power of the supercharger propels the truck with authority. And the five-speed manual, combined with the cool growl from the Corsa stainless-steel exhaust, gives you the correct impression that you're behind the wheel of a performance pickup. Handling on the truck is crisp while not sacrificing ride quality, partly because the truck is a standard cab with a short wheelbase and is shod with wide 20-inch wheels with minimal sidewall deflection. The fact that it's a standard cab also raises one of the few complaints we had with the truck - a lack of interior storage space. Still, the handling and performance puts storage secondary to fun. The only other complaint we had with the Joe Gibbs Performance Silverado had to do with the shifter. The long metal shifter seemed to amplify the internal noises of the transmission, a problem Joe Gibbs Performance is working to solve.
In terms of performance, the truck lives up to its heritage. Even with wheel spin from the peg-leg rearend, the Sliverado clicked off consistent 0-60-mph times in the 6.5-second range with quarter-mile passes in the low 15s at just less than 100 mph. Our best clocking was a 15.13-second pass at 98.3 mph. We're convinced a posi-traction rearend would push that into the high 14s. The Baer Eradispeed brake upgrade helped haul the pickup to a dead stop from 60 mph in a respectable 119 feet.
All in all, we were impressed with the Joe Gibbs Performance Silverado, including the quality of the aftermarket components selected for the truck and the overall build-quality of the vehicle. A couple more color options other than black would be nice, but we suspect as the popularity and sales of the vehicle increase, so will the option list and color choices. We were most impressed with the performance of the truck and its reliability as an everyday driver.
For more information on the Joe Gibbs Performance Silverados and Tahoes, or to find a dealer near you, contact: Joe Gibbs Performance, Dept. ST, 12415 Reese Blvd., Huntersville, NC 28078, (800) 547-2677, www.joegibbsperformance.com.
Performance Comparo:Silverado Ss Vs. Joe Gibbs Performance SilveradoSince we're talking GM performance pickups, we couldn't help but compare our test numbers with the Silverado SS. In all fairness, the Silverado SS is an Extended Cab, all-wheel-drive pickup that weights in at nearly 5,300 pounds, while the Joe Gibbs Performance pickup is a standard cab model that is lighter, at around 4,500 pounds. In terms of bang for the buck, you be the judge.
Silverado Ss0-60 mph: 7.44 Seconds1/4 mile: 15.79 Seconds @ 87.4 mph60-0 mph: 121 Feet
Joe Gibbs Performance Silverado0-60 mph: 6.39 Seconds1/4 mile: 15.13 Seconds @ 98.3 mph60-0 mph: 119 Feet